mafitch

Either my car is a magnet for rocks and other road-borne projectiles, or this paint is very hard and doesn't absorb impacts very well. In less than 2 weeks I've acquired more significant rock chips on the front edge of the hood and fenders than I have in years with other cars.

Incidentally, I have a Starfire Pearl LS460 for which I had to buy the two-stage touch up paint.

lbintab

iTrader: (1)

Yeah I seen a video about this.

mafitch

Interesting clip, but is it a stated fact that Lexus paint is hard vs. the industry?

Lextrician

who knows i have a good amount of rock chips all over the hood as well.. and I couldn't imagine within two weeks though. I need to get my hood re sprayed.

I8ABMR

get a clear bra if you dont already have it. I would never own a car that didnt have it. My red G35 had it on the bumper but not on the hood and my hood looked like a starry night when I traded it.

garyr

Lexus uses a very weak water based paint in everything including bugs will chip it. I had a 3M clear noise kit installed for about $300 problem solved but I had to get some chips first to figure that out.

lbintab

iTrader: (1)

so i don't have a crazy amount of rock chips but would it be a bad idea to clear bra it without respraying the hood?

Nospinzone

I didn't get the clear bra because I don't care for the line I can see at the edge. Plus my Q45a with 188,000 miles had only 1 chip on it. Meanwhile my LS460 with 40,000 miles has half a dozen. It must be something with the Lexus paint.

Next time I may get the clear bra.

Lextrician

I agree with the clear bra, not really a fan of the lines but if it protects your hood then I have to go that route, or might vinyl wrap the whole car.

brianlin87

iTrader: (11)

ideally you'd want to re-spray the hood, wait for it to cure and then apply a clearbra. that way you're protecting what's already clean.

no point adding a clearbra onto an already chipped hood/bumper imo. that's like putting a car cover on a car that just went off-roading.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

lexus paint is famous for being soft. gets chipped very easily. good for detailing, bad for daily driving. if it's all chipped already, it's pointless to put clear bra on now like brian said.

Helmar

70,000 miles on my 4 1/2 year old LS600hL. Paint is still deep and lustrious, no chips, or even any parking lot dings. None of those swirl scratches caused by car washes (I use touchless washes...)

I heard that the LS600hL has a special "Double wet sanded" paint treatment. Perhaps this explains the pristine paint.....

chnk

iTrader: (12)

thats a stupid test the truck is more on the lexus side of the road,

rominl

iTrader: (4)

i am not sure if it's just on hybrid, i believe all ls460 has the 2 stage hand wet sanding process